A friend told me the story of why he entered Bible School. His youth, talent, and impressive oratorical and spiritual gifts captivated people. He felt the call of God in his life. One senior pastor, who he respected, didn’t seem as taken as some others. Instead of telling him how talented he was, this minister kept encouraging him to go to Bible School. Why did he need to go? He could move the crowd with his singing and preaching. People loved to hear him. He could turn the house out. The senior pastor would just smile and keep saying the same thing. He wanted him to go to Bible School.

Only after some time did the younger preacher comprehend the events unfolding. The older minister saw potential in him that could be short-circuited if the younger minister saw himself as “ready,” at his young age. Finally, the minister took the Pastor’s advice. His Bible School training changed him and his ministry. Dr. Berry didn’t look back. He became an advocate for training and education. He started his own Bible school and became a man who could move in many circles because of his talent, education and sincere love for God. John Berry realized that, “You don’t know what you don’t know until you do know what you didn’t know.”

Being able to count among my friends this wise, talented, and humble man  was a blessing. We all have talent and gifting, but we all need the discipline to develop those natural talents so that we can offer our best to God and the world around us. After all, we don’t know what we don’t know until we take the time to learn. May this year be a time of growth for us all.